Amid doubts over whether the Tongi factory disaster was caused by boiler blast, a survivour claims it was an explosion during gas leak that brought the factory down.

In contradiction to authorities’ claim, the Office of the Chief Inspector of Boilers has ruled out the possibility of a fire being caused by a boiler explosion.

“We could hear the hissing sound of gas leak in the morning,” claimed Abdur Rahman Mishu. “Before we could do anything, the explosion took place causing a fire.”

Abdur was limping across Tempaco Foils Limited, the factory that caved in yesterday killing at least 25 people, with a battered leg, bruises around his face and body, and bandages around his head.

Barely being able to speak, the slating department worker told The Daily Star that he was among those who jumped from the multistoried building after the fire.

Still, 10 people were on the missing list – last reported this afternoon.

The Tempaco disaster, that took place in Gazipur’s Tongi just three days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, stands in line with the history of unsafe labour working conditions at Bangladesh’s factories.

Lt Col Musharaf Hossain, director (training, development & planning) of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, yesterday said it was a boiler blast that triggered the fire and building collapse.

However, MA Mannan, chief inspector of boilers, told reporters that inspection at the factory site revealed that there was no damage to the two boilers of the packaging factory.